Automobile light



Jan, 13, 1931. s, THORNE 1,789,162

AUTOMOBILE LIGHT 7 Filed Aug. 23'. 1929 3 Sheets-Skeet 1 Wag ATTORNEYAUTOMOBILE LIGHT Filed Aug. 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 jazzzzaeiui 770775I N VEN TOR.

' A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 13, 19 31. s, THORNE 4 1,789,162

AUTOMOBILE LIGHT Filed Aug. 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5' Jazrzzzeifl7707726,;

I N VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEY.

' oral views, and in which p the gear ofthe Patented Jan. 13, 1931:aptiieation filed August 23,1929. Serial a. $871,949.-

This invention relates to dirigible lights for motor vehicles andthelike, the. general object of the invention being to provide meansforturning the reflectorsand lamps of the headlamps from thesteeringmechanism when such mechanism is actuatedto cause thevehicletotake a turn so as to illuminate the road on turns and curves aswell as the straight portions of the road and also to provide means forprojecting colored rays of light from the right side of the right lampwhen the vehicle is being turned to the right and from the left sideofthe left lamp when the vehicle is being turned to the left, these raysacting as directional signals.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding thereflectors in the lamps stationary when it is not desired to havetherefiectors turn.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andspecifically pointed out in the appended claim. 1 r

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts thronghoutthe sev- Figure l is a fragmentary planviewjshow- Figure l Figure Figure ure 2. 7

Figure 6 is a detail view partly in section showingthe means foroperating the flQXlblG shaft of the device from the steering shaft.Figure 7 is a sectional detail viewshowing the means for connecting anddisconnecting flexible shaft with the said is a horizontalsectionthrough 5 isa section on line 55 of Figshaft.

' ,In these views the numeral-'1 indicates an elongated housingextending acrossjt lamp housings v tened' to'the housingl and thereflector B I of each lamp ,isattached to a shaft 3 which slot 17 7nected he front. s suitably of the vehicle and hz'tving' its endconnected with the fenders or other parts of't fhevehicl'e. Tlietubnlarstems2' of the A l'iave thei'r lowerends fas- 55 passes through the stem2 into the housing 1,-

the shaft being 'journ-aled in said housing 1 and the lower parts of thelamp housingfo rhe sockets 1 for the lamp bulbs are car- ;ried, by thereflectors. sothat the "sockets-and lamps will 1'n0ve with the reflectori zontally arranged shaft, 6 is locat QA; h.ored in the v uprights G5aft h as eof, 7 these housing 1 and is journaledini-the T placed in saidhousing and this abevele d gear. 8' atf each" end 'ther gears meshing,with the beveled gears 9 011 the shaft-.73.. This gearing is so arrangcdthat the reflectors will be moved in unison 7,0 when theshaftfi is.turned. A shaftflO is journale'd in aftubhlai- "part ll. extendingrearwardly from thellousing l and by clamps 14 with the steering-column.A

a I Y L V i r fiGXlblG Sl'lEtit (notshown) 1s arranged n the housingandhas one end connectedwith" so the shaft 10 'andzits otherend'withtheshaft l6wvhich liajsa slot .17 'iniits free end, A. gear 18is rotatably mounted 'on the shaft 16" and ayoke member 19Lpivotaily theslot 1'? so that when the pin is inengagelllfillt with. the slot l7, thegear l 8,1s connected with the'shaft 16, vbut when the shait'eo .20 ismoved upwardly byfthe 11and-lever'22 on the steering column adjacent thesteering Wheel the pin 21 willbe moved. out ofthe and thus the gear 18'will be disc0nmeshes with the gear 23 connected: with the steering shaftso that when the gear 1 8 is connected with thefshaft 16 the flexiblethis shaft is connected with the shaft (3 by the beveled: gears 12 Aflexibleghonsingjl has one end ls connected withthe tubular.:partjf11and a portion of this flexible 'housingis connected from the shaft 16.The gear 18 i B will be turned from said flexible shaft through thegearing and shaft above described. g V

From the foregoing it will be seen that the reflectors will be actuatedevery time the steering mechanism is operatd to cause the vehicle tomake a turn or takea curve in the road so that the rays of light will bedirected on the curved portions of the road. When it is not desired tohave the reflectors move with the steering mechanism, such as during'theday, the lever 22 can be moved to actuate the yoke member 191 through.-means of the shaft so that the gear 18 will be disconnectedfrom theflexible" shaft. r

A colored lens 2% is placed in the outer side of each lamp housing and anotch 25 is formed in the outer'wall of each reflector so that when thereflectors are in their nor- "rotatably connected ible shaft geared tothe horizontal shaft and to the lower part of the steering column, astub shaft connected with the rear end ofthe flexible shaft and having aslot therein, a gear on said stub shaft having a slot in its hubregistering with the first slot, a lever pivoted to the steering column,a link connected therewith, a yoke at thelower end of the link, a pin'carried'by the yoke for engaging the slots when the lever is in; oneposition and disengaging the slots when the lever is in another positionand a gear on the steering shaft meshing with the gear on the stubshaft.

In testimony whereof I afliX. my signature. V

SAMUEL A. THORNE.

mal positions no light will pass through the lens 24:. However, whenthereflectors are turned, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, some of therays of light will pass through the colored lens-andbe projected throughthe lens ,to that side of the vehicle which is nearest'to the edge oftheir'oad. Thus 'when the vehicle is making a'right turn or taking aright curve colored rays of light will be projected from the right sideof the right lamp and when the vehicle is taking a left curve or isbeing turned to i V the left colored rays of light will beprojected fromthe left side of'the left'lamp.

These rays will act to indicate which way the vehicle is being turned. iIt is thought from the foregoing deserlption that the advantagesandnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made'in the construction andin'the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts, provided thatsuch changes fall within thescope'of the appended claim.

What I claim is i In a vehicle and in combination with its head lampsand their reflectors, a tubular member horizontallyarranged and havingits ends connected to the front fenders of the vehicle, tubular stemshaving their lower ends connected with the top of the tubular men1ber,a1la1 np housing connected with the Tipper part of each stem, a shaftpassing through each stem and connected wvith the reflector ineachhousing, the lower ends of the shaftsfbeing journaled in thehorizontal tubular member, gears on the 7 shafts and arranged in thetubular member, v a horizontal shaft ournaled in the tubular J member,gears thereon meshing with the before mentioned *gears, means forautomatlcally turnlng the horizontal shaft when operated to turn thevehicle to either the the steering mechanism of the vehicle is r lef s ms compr sing a fi M

